Pogba wants Man United leave, huge wage demands could be an issue for Madrid: report

May 17, 2019

Although Manchester United have a tough ask when it comes to signing players this summer, a lack of Champions League football could also signal a mini exodus with current squad members wanting to leave.

According to The Independent, Paul Pogba is amongst those who wants out. The Frenchman is intent on ditching Old Trafford for the Santiago Bernabeu this summer – and Real Madrid has already made an initial move to sign the 26-year-old.

The report says that Pogba is amongst Zinedine Zidane’s top transfer targets, with Los Blancos ready to sell Keylor Navas to try and aid the purchase of his French compatriot.

Understandably, United’s preference has been to keep Pogba, and it’s worth noting that the club aren’t yet under any real pressure to sell due to the fact that he #6 has two years (with an option for another year) on his deal. Furthermore, the Reds would want at least £150million to let their star man depart.

The main problem comes with Pogba’s wage demands. He wants to become the highest paid player in the world, which could begin with a basic wage of £500k-a-week before bonuses and add-ons. Madrid would struggle to fund both the transfer fee and those huge financial demands from the player.

I’d be surprised if Madrid have seen enough from Pogba to warrant half-a-million-pound a week. He’s been nowhere near consistent enough to demand that, although you just know as soon as he leaves Old Trafford he’ll start putting in those world-class performances with regularity.